The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-07
THE TNDIANAPoLIs JOURNAL FRIDAY. JANUARY Z 1887
tas to the long and short hauls and to prohibit
poolingI as "a most glarIng inconsistency, which
recalled the couplet:
You're damned if you do.
And your damned il you don't.

recailed the coupieE
You're damned if you do
And you're damned il you don't.
He also argued that the effect of the bill would
be TO place the American railroads, so far as the
business from the West to the Atlantic seaboard
Is concerned, at the mercy of the Grand Trunk
railway. of Canada. As to the intimaton that
it would be necessary to adopt the conference
report in order to have any legislation ON the
subject at this session. he did not think it was
we'll founded.
Mr.. Morgan opposed the bill Alabama, he
said, was at the further Southern margin of the
United States The markets in which her peo-
pie bought their dry goods and a large part of
their groceries were at the far Northeast, and
there was broad intervening area between
them The markets in which they bought their
food supplies-Chicago, ST. Louis and Clncin-
nati-were also far distant from Alabama The
markets IN which they sold their products were
all distant. They had vast tracts Of country to
cross in getting either to the market of purchase
or the market of sale, so that he though that any
bill which forced the railroad companies
to raise their charges of freights for
long haus would be necessarily inimical
to the best interests OF his State
He argued that the States were perfectly COM
petent TO deal with this subject, and that the
interference Of the federal government would
lead to still further invasions, until the manage
ment Of railroads would eventually become the
most absorbing business of Congress. He could
not subscribe to the doctrine that interstate
commerce could only be protected through the
action of Congress- The bill based solely
on that false premise. 1t opened the door to
the interference of Congress with every regula-
ton of trade and commerce. It exposed the
charter of every railroad company-given by
States to notifications through acts of Com
gress. The principle of this bill would enc in
| making merchandise of politics, while it ruled
and ruined business. AS he read this bill, the
Interpretation of which was so uncertain that
every one had to interpret it for himself it Ee-
cessitated the increase Of rates on long hans in
| all cases where the roads could not sacrifice a
| large part of their income. He was convinced
that the roads to the coal and iron fields of Ala
hama could not do that, and the burden would
fall very heavily on those industries Of Ala
| bamn and would probably destroy them.
Mr.. Cullom said he was very anxious to have
| the bill disposed of possible. consist
ent with fair discussion, and ne therefore gave
| notice that On Tuesday or Wednesday next he
would ask the Senate to remain in session until
| the subject was disposed of.
Mr. Hoar demonstrated against cutting off de-
| hate on bill that would operate so seriously
| upon modern commerce and would 30 greatly af-
feet the interests of the city and State which he
| represented.
| Mr.. Cullom said that the Senator had had
plenty of time to prepare for the discussion since
| the conference report had been made Besides,
the bill, reported, not very different from
| that which passed the Senate a year ago. In
his judgment the bill, if passed. would not inter
| fere with modern commerce at all, nor with the
| interests of Boston or Massachusetts.
| After an executive session the Senate ad-
| iOurned.